Everyone knows how dangerous it is to follow Jesus in North Korea. The communist dictatorship has been at the top of the World Watch List for more than 20 years \u2013 the latest World Watch List report has North Korea at #1 on the list of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian.<\/p>\n
But even if it\u2019s common knowledge, it\u2019s still horrifying when a news report comes out that underscores the incredible risk Christians face in North Korea.<\/p>\n
Radio Free Asia has reported that a group of five Christians were recently arrested during an underground church service. The five believers met to pray together at a farm in Tongam, a village in the central South Pyongan province, when police raided their meeting. The Christians were taken by the authorities, and their Christian materials were confiscated.<\/p>\n
Sources told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the small group had been meeting weekly and that the arrest followed a tip-off by an informant.\u00a0\u201cAt the site of the worship service, the police retrieved dozens of Bible booklets and arrested all in attendance,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0one source told RFA.<\/p>\n A potential death sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n While it\u2019s unknown precisely what has happened to the five Christians, being caught worshipping or possessing Christian materials can carry heavy penalties \u2013 including immediate execution. In the past, Christians who were arrested for religious practices and Bible possession have been sentenced to life in North Korea\u2019s notorious system of labour camps. Open Doors estimates between 50 000 and 70 000 Christians are currently imprisoned in the country\u2019s intricate prison system.<\/p>\n These camps can serve as a death sentence. Hea Woo*, a North Korean Christian who spent time in labour camps, described the horrors of one camp.\u00a0\u201cConstantly, there were people dying,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0she says.\u00a0\u201cDeath was a part of our daily life. The bodies were usually burned, and the guards scattered the ashes on the path. Every day, we walked down that path, and I always thought, one day, the other prisoners will be walking over me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear where the five Christians are being held, but they reportedly have refused to renounce their faith.\u00a0\u201cA staff member of the judicial agency told us that the [believers] refused to tell where they got their Bibles and said: \u2018All for Jesus, even in death,\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0a source told RFA.<\/p>\n Constant danger needs constant prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s a rare glimpse into the reality of life for Christians in North Korea. That\u2019s because even reporting on these kinds of incidents can be dangerous for believers there.\u00a0\u201cThis case is only one of the many religious freedom violations happening in North Korea,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>says Brother Simon*, an Open Doors coordinator for North Korea. (We can\u2019t tell you his real name for security reasons.)\u00a0\u201cAs Open Doors, we are aware of many similar incidents that have taken place all over the country in recent years. We do, however, not publish any details as they might put the local Christians in danger.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n